La Carrera De Rudolph Valentino Antes De Tropezar Con Mureyev El Mito Y El Culto Por Rudolph Valentino Han Hecho Olvidar Algunas Dobleces De Su Vida Real

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La Carrera De Rudolph Valentino Antes De Tropezar Con Mureyev El Mito Y El Culto Por Rudolph Valentino Han Hecho Olvidar Algunas Dobleces De Su Vida Real PERSONALIDAPFS ( 11 ) La carrera de Rudolph Valentino antes de tropezar con Mureyev El mito y el culto por Rudolph Valentino han hecho olvidar algunas dobleces de su vida real. Que nunca fue un actor, era notorio, pero su carrera sirve para mostrar cómo en aquellos turbulentos años veinte se creaban las famas y se instrumentaba a los actores. Con el pretexto del estreno de una supuesta biografía del actor, no no está demás recordar cuáles fueron sus ideas y vueltas en Hollywood, esa Fábrica de Sueños. .. y de prestigios efímeros, aunque no siempre. Cuando miraba fijo algo pasaba en nino de USA, que quizás compensara las damas de la platea. Vestido de las trabas del puritanismo por enton­ sheik hacía que ellas suspiraran ante ces bastante maltrechas, agredidas la soñada posibilidad de que las lle­ por corrientes liberales, las flappers, vara, raptadas, montado a caballo has­ los primeros amagos de libertad se­ ta el desierto. Cuando esa mirada se xual en décadas. El exotismo de Va­ escondía tras los pertrechos de un lentino fue doble y ambiguo: latino, noble ruso, ellas se imaginaban zari­ de mirada estrábica, no tenía los ras­ nas, o se identificaban con Doña Flor gos de un norteamericano típico y su en su (vano) intento de seducir a El forma de bailar y enamorar a las mu­ Gallardo. Lo que la publicidad hizo por jeres exaltaba una naturalidad que Valentino fue menos de lo que el pú­ fue la base de su éxito. Al mismo blico aportó a su éxito, un fenómeno tiempo sus personajes lo alejaron de que derivó en suicidios, desmayos, una realidad inmediata e identifica- manifestaciones de histeria, múltiples ble. Ese extranjero era capaz de lle­ llantos y lutos (todos femeninos) var a sus espectadoras hasta regio­ cuandc murió en 1926. Durante cua­ nes lejanas donde podían imaginarse tro años su fama había sido mayor riesgos acechantes y aventuras im­ que la de Mary Pickford, Chaplin, Dou- previstas. Como señaló con precisión glas Fairbans y otros ilustres. En ese Theodore Huff, “Valentino llenaba un plazo hizo apenas nueve de las trein­ vacío en la vida de las mujeres nor­ ta películas en que intervino desde teamericanas". Quizás esa fuera la 1918, y en ninguna de ellas demostró razón del fanático culto por su per­ particulares virtudes como actor. Esos sonalidad, que sobrevivió por años fcilms no eran por cierto valiosos y alentados por una muerte en plena sus temas y libretos sumaban los cli­ fama. sés de una época que ahora parece En la vida real la conducta del ac­ apenas ridicula. Allí Valentino fue tor y sus sentimientos fueron más sheik árabe, torero español, justiciero confusos. Un primer matrimonio con ’ ruso, gaucho argentino, marinero de Jean Acker duró menos de doce ho­ Su Majestad, simple rajá, con grados ras, un segundo intento con Natacha IN MEMORIAN RUDY de exotismo que contribuyeron a de­ Rambova generó un escándalo, su de­ Parte del culto rribar las defensas del sector feme­ tención e insistentes dudas sobre la Del diario de Rudolph Valentino, textual 1922 AGOSTO 7. — Conocí a Natacha. JUNIO 27. — No resisto más. Ma­ JUNIO 12. — Desde el comienzo Mi empresario la odia... ñana me embarco. Cuando pien­ de la gira, ¡ni un sólo beso! Mi AGOSTO 15. — Natacha me ha so que Natacha está en París, en empresario me quiere para él sólo incendiado.. los brazos de esa mujer. ¡Qué y me ha dicho que la responsa­ SETIEMBRE 14. — Busco Nata- cosa atroz son los celos! bilidad artística de mi número cha más que nunca. JULIO 2. — Quisiera que el bar­ personal me impide tener aven­ SETIEMBRE 29. — No me pue­ co fuera más rápido. El pensa­ turas. Pero el muchacho irlandés do dominar. Je suis amoureux. miento que dentro de poco la voy de una belleza extraordinaria me ¡Es terrible! a ver me obsesiona. El coman­ tienta. ¡qué estatua! Ayer hubo 1923 dante, que ha sido muy gentl con­ un momento en que su mirada ABRIL 17. — El beso de mamó migo, me habla de muchas cosas, de esmeralda tropezó con la mía... fue un bálsamo. pero yo sufro en silencio, roído nuestras manos se tocaron en el ABRIL 18. — Esta mañana, mamá por la angustia pensando en ascensor. Pero es necesario que me habló tan cordialmente. Pero ella... piense en mi público esta noche... me falta Natacha. 1924 Sólo así podré resistir a toda ten­ JUNIO 10. — Mamá se ha vuelto JUNIO 3. — Es el cuarto telegra­ tación. a su pueblo. El beso de adiós, en ma que le envío sin recibir la JUNIO 14. — ¡Cuando pienso que la puerta, m e' quebró el alma. menor respuesta. Todas las hi­ hace siete meses que no me acues­ Mon fils, je préfere m 'éloigner.. pótesis posibles han destruido to con un muchacho ni con una cette femme qui parle comme un mis facultades. No veo el momen­ chica! ¡Es terrible! Es mi empre­ homme va faire da ta vie un en- to de llegar, pero no puedo resis­ sario que me obliga a esta tortu­ fer. tir el pensamiento de que Nata- ra, me repite todo el tiempo que JUNIO 20. — Pobre mamá, ¡cuán­ cha no vendrá a recibirme. sólo el público tiene derecho so­ ta razón tenía! ¡Me siento com­ JUNIO 4. — El viaje de El Havre bre mi persona, pero siento que pletamente solo y perdido! ¡Real­ a París fue un suplicio. El silen­ no me puedo aguantar más. mente, el amor es una locura! cio de Natacha ha martirizado mi 12 SANGRE Y ARENA LOS CUATRO JINETES DEL APOCALIPSIS Torero español Gaucho argentino índole de esas relaciones que llegaron lo compara con los ídolos puramente FILMOGRAFIA VALENTINO a separarlo de Paramount y lo hundie­ norteamericanos se notan las dife­ 1918 — Por el pan (Allmony). Director, Emmett ron en litigios varios. El conquistador rencias: mientras Douglas Fairbanks C. Flynn. Con Josephine Whittel. Fox. de mujeres americanas era un hom­ 1918 — El amante fatal (Nobody Home). Direc­ enfrentaba variadas dificultades físi­ tor, Elmer Cllfton. Con Margaret Ñamara. bre débil y pálido, que estallaba en cas en compañía de sufridas heroí­ Fox. arranques histéricos y sucumbía a una nas, las compañeras de Valentino eran 1918 — Ambiciones mundanas (A Society Sensa- tion). Director, Paul Powell. Libreto de patética debilidad emocional. Esa partícipes de esa aventura. Fairbanks Perley Poore Steehan. Universal. conducta no era insólita en aquellos o Wallace Reid premiaban a sus mu­ 1918 — La hija del detective (All Night). Direc­ años de Hollywood: las crueldades de jeres con besos castos, tímidos, fru­ tor, Paul Powell. Libreto de Fred Myton sobre novela de Edgar Franklln. Con Chaplin en el matrimonio fueron ven­ gales. Los sheiks, toreros y rajás de Carmen Myers. Universal. tiladas en los tribunales, Fatty Ar- Valentino dominaban a las mujeres, 1919 — El vértigo del lujo (The Delicious Llttle buckle y Mary Miles Minter habían que caían rendidas (generalmente ha­ Devil). Director, Robert Z. Leonard. Li­ breto de Harvey Thew. Con Mae Murray. asesinado a una bailarina en una or­ cia atrás, para que el astro las sos­ Universal. gía, William Randolph Hearst mató tuviera por la cintura) en prolongados 1919 — La pequeña personilla (The Blg Llttle por error a Thomas Ince después de besos, que eran lo más que el cine Person). Director, Robert Z. Leonard. Li­ breto de Bess Meredlth. Con Mae Mu­ confundirlo con Chaplin, Wallace Reid de USA se atrevía a proponer a sus rray. Universal. fue derribado por los estupefacientes, espectadores (y espectadoras)-. Esos 1919 — La novela de un picaro (A Rogue's Ro­ Louella Parsons ganó con chantajes ardides no tienen mucho que ver con mance). Director, James Young.. Libreto de H. H. Van Loan. Con Earle Williams. una columna vitalicia en la cadena el arte interpretativo o con el cine. Vitagraph. Hearst. No parecían extravagantes (a El propio Valentino declaró alguna 1919 — El destructor de hogares (The Homebrea- lo sumo exóticos) la heterosexualidad vez: "Desconozco la técnica de la ac­ ker). Director, Victor Schertzinger. Li­ breto de John Lynch. Con Dorothy Dal- y los caprichos de Valentino, quizás tuación, pero tengo un innato senti­ ton. Thomas Ince. porque a los ídolos todo les estaba do del ritmo que me guía. Hay ritmo 1919 — De mal agüero (Out of Luck). Director permitido. en mis movimientos como lo hay en Elmer Clifton. Con Dorothy Gish, Ralph Graves. Crifflth-Artcraft. Para un espectador de hoy el estilo la música y siento en una escena dra­ 1919 — Ojos de juventud (Eyes of Youth). Direc­ de Valentino no parece diferir dema­ mática la misma emoción que sentiría tor. Albert Parker. Con Clara Kímball siado de sus colegas de principios de si la estuviera oyendo en una compo­ Young, Edmund Lowe, Paulino Stárk. Equity. los años veinte. Sin embargo, si se sición musical. Hay que conocer la 1920 — La virgen casada (The Married Virgin). Director. Joseph Maxwell (o Emmett C. Flynn). Con Versa Sisson. Fidelity. corazón... regresar al hotel. El pensamiento 1920 — Los encantos de la condesa (The Ad- en Natacha que obsesiona de nue­ venturess). Director, Fred J. Balshofer. JUNIO 5. — La noche nos ha di­ Con Julián Eltinge. Republlc. vidido más todavía. Ella me ha vo, mi alma está lívida de dolor. 1920 — El gran fraude (The Óieater). Director rechazado otra vez... A las cua­ Todas las ilusiones de mi existen­ Henry Otto. Libreto de Lols Zellner. Con May Alllson. Metro. tro de la madrugada me escapé cia se han desvanecido. Sobre el 1920 — El campo de recreo de la pasión (Pas- del'hotel. Fuera, me perdí en las Boulevard des Italiens, veo el sion’s Playground). Director, J, A.
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